Pygmy Corydoras Pygmaeus 1cm Catfish
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Pygmy Cory (Corydoras pygmaeus) is one of the smallest catfish in the hobby, a slender silver fish with a crisp black stripe from snout to tail. Unusually for a cory it often hovers in midwater in tight shoals. It comes from the Rio Madeira basin in Brazil and suits peaceful nano and planted community tanks.
- Adult Size: Around 2.5–3 cm (1–1.2 in); females larger
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Origin
- Native to: Rio Madeira basin, Brazil
- Habitat: Small creeks and tributaries among vegetation and tree roots
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, needs very small foods
- Preferred Foods: Micro pellets, crushed flake, Daphnia, Artemia nauplii, Cyclops, microworms
- Feeding Habits: Feed small amounts once or twice daily; sinking and midwater
Tank Mates
- Best with: Ember tetras, chili rasboras, Otocinclus, shrimp, other pygmy corys
- Avoid: Anything large, boisterous or big enough to eat them
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Very peaceful
- Territoriality: None
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Challenges: Easily outcompeted for food; sensitive to poor water
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and slightly acidic
- Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
- pH: 6.4–7.4
- Hardness: 0–8 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 45 litres for a group of ten
Final Notes
Buy at least six, ideally ten or more, as they are timid in small numbers and shine as a large shoal. Use soft sand and dense planting with leaf litter for cover. Keep only with tiny, gentle tankmates so they can feed confidently. Females are noticeably rounder when carrying eggs, and pairs spawn readily on plants in a well-kept tank. A delightful nano species.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.